Cong to tread cautiously over expansion exercise

Despite Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy announcing that the cabinet expansion will take place next week, his coalition partner Congress is in two minds, fearing escalation of dissident activities after the exercise.

Before giving its approval for the expansion, the party leadership will hold a discussion with the state leaders, a senior Congress leader told DH. With a section of the leaders suggesting that the expansion should be put on hold till the next Lok Sabha elections, the party is studying the pros and cons, he said. 

There is a view within the party that only chairmen of boards and corporations should be appointed and cabinet expansion should be put on hold till the completion of the elections. Some even suggested that instead of filling all six vacant cabinet berths from the Congress quota at one go, a few should be kept pending, said the leader.

The party is worried that if the exercise is conducted immediately, disgruntled legislators may work against the party candidates in the elections.

Further movement on the issue could happen when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who will be in the national capital on Wednesday, meets K C Venugopal, the Congress general secretary incharge of the party’s affairs in Karnataka.